Chapter Thirty-Three: A Warning
"Your Majesty is too kind. The Emperor is my husband, and I should serve him with all my heart without daring to overstep my bounds."
Jiang Huan blinked, her words earnest, as if she hadn't grasped the Empress Dowager's implied meaning at all.
Looking at Jiang Huan's innocent appearance, the Empress Dowager slammed the teacup in her hand aside.
"Consort Zhuang, are you showing off to me?"
What do you mean by serving with all your heart, and not daring to overstep your bounds!
Apart from Jiang Huan, the other concubines in the harem rarely even saw Huo Lin, let alone served him.
Jiang Huan looked utterly innocent. "Your Majesty, I didn't mean that."
Her long, thick eyelashes drooped down, and she lowered her eyes, looking very obedient, but she didn't mention the matter of accompanying the emperor at the palace at all.
The Empress Dowager's words were simply a ploy to get her to give up voluntarily.
Such a wonderful opportunity to go to the Summer Palace would serve two purposes: first, it would solidify the emperor's favor, and second, it would allow him to escape the gossiping harem.
Most importantly, Beijing is just so incredibly hot without air conditioning!!!
She deliberately refused to speak, pretending to be clueless, as if she couldn't understand.
As long as Huo Lin remains the same Huo Lin, he'll have his share of the good life.
The atmosphere inside the room became tense for a moment, just then a lively voice rang out.
"Sister Jiang, this princess has arrived!"
Before the person arrived, the sound came first. Jiang Huan looked up and saw a pale yellow figure walking quickly from a distance.
In the blink of an eye, the princess had already run up to the front. Seeing that the Empress Dowager was also there, she affectionately leaned against her.
"Grandmother, you've come to see Sister Jiang too?"
The Empress Dowager pulled the princess to her side, looking helpless. "Why are you in such a panic? Aren't you afraid of falling?"
The princess chuckled and hugged the Empress Dowager's arm.
"I heard that the Imperial Uncle is going to the Summer Palace to escape the heat, so I thought I'd come and ask Sister Jiang if she's going."
Upon hearing this, the atmosphere in the palace, which had just become somewhat lively, instantly plummeted to freezing point.
The Empress Dowager glanced at Jiang Huan, her expression indifferent. "She is merely a Noble Lady, and according to custom, she is not allowed to accompany the Emperor to the Imperial Palace."
The Empress Dowager's words brought to the forefront what had been hidden in the shadows.
At this point, it was difficult for Jiang Huan to pretend to be stupid, but she still dodged the question: "The Empress Dowager is right. My rank is low, and I will act in accordance with the rules of the palace."
However, rules are often meant to be broken.
She wouldn't refuse if the young emperor really asked her to go to the imperial palace with him.
Even if the Empress Dowager asks about it, it won't concern her. After all, she's just a concubine; how could she dare to disobey the Emperor?
The Empress Dowager was unaware of Jiang Huan's thoughts, but she finally heard a sentence that pleased her somewhat, and said coldly, "It's good that you know."
She came here to give Jiang Huan a warning, and having said enough, there was no need for her to stay any longer.
Princess Mingzhu had come to see Jiang Huan, so she was naturally unwilling to leave. She could only look at Jiang Huan longingly after the Empress Dowager left.
"Sister Jiang, are you really going to stand in this furnace of the capital and swelter in the heat?"
She had originally planned to visit the imperial palace this time and have Jiang Huan accompany her.
Sister Jiang can cook so many delicious dishes. She can enjoy beautiful scenery and delicious food at the same time. What could be happier than this?
Jiang Huan smiled slightly when she saw her pitiful little face.
"It all depends on whether your royal uncle is willing to part with it."
Upon hearing Jiang Huan mention Huo Lin, Mingzhu quickly suppressed any thoughts that had just surfaced in her mind.
He sighed, his smiling face filled with frustration and unhappiness.
Seeing this, Jiang Huan almost couldn't hold back and couldn't help but reach out and pinch Mingzhu's cheek.
"Alright, let fate decide. This is your first time at Weiyang Palace. Come on, I'll show you around."
She winked mischievously, "I have two plump, white koi fish."
at the same time.
Huo Linzheng was discussing with his court officials the selection of people and items to accompany him to the imperial palace.
"Your Majesty, this is the list of attendants from the harem sent by Consort Jia. I heard it was drafted together with the Empress Dowager." Wang Degui handed the list to Huo Lin.
Huo Lin lowered his eyes and glanced at the list. He didn't have many people in his harem to begin with, so whether he drafted the list or not didn't really matter.
But this year is different.
Closing the document, Huo Lin casually said, "Add Consort Zhuang to the list."
This list is incredibly ridiculous! It's audacious that Jiang Huan's name isn't on it!?
Even though the imperial palace has been gone for so long, the imperial kitchen still has the same staff, and the unpalatable food is still imported directly from the source.
If Jiang Huan doesn't come, then he's not going to escape the summer heat, he's going to become an ascetic!
Huo Lin spoke calmly, but his words caused a huge uproar, leaving the ministers below in shock.
This was the first time they had ever seen Huo Lin take the initiative to bring his concubines along.
It should be noted that the emperor had not favored the harem for a long time, and had no princes or princesses.
The fact that he is now taking the initiative to suggest bringing his concubines is a good omen!
Seeing this, a minister said, "Your Majesty is busy with countless affairs of state, which is a blessing for the world and the people. The concubines in the harem are the closest people to Your Majesty, and they should also receive Your Majesty's blessings and favor."
"Your Majesty should also put the matter of ensuring the continuation of the imperial line, which was raised by the senior officials a few days ago."
Here we go again.
Huo Lin frowned and rubbed his forehead.
This is so frustrating! Don't they ever get tired of saying these things every day?!
I didn't ask you to bring your big, fat sons to court every day, did I?
I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you, Consort Zhuang, to be my shield!
Huo Lin immediately issued an imperial decree ordering Consort Zhuang to serve him in bed that night.
The ministers had naturally heard about Huo Lin's exclusive favor. Although it is true that exclusive favor can harm a country, the absence of a crown prince would lead to the downfall of the country!
Whether it's Consort Zhuang or Consort Jia, the important thing is to get the prince born first.
With their worries resolved, the ministers continued to discuss other matters related to moving the imperial palace.
After Jiang Huan's name appeared on the list of those accompanying the emperor to the imperial palace, Wang Degui brought another piece of news that was enough to shock the entire harem.
Consort Zhuang, also known as Jiang Huan, is to serve the emperor tonight.
"Sister Jiang, the Imperial Uncle actually wants you to serve him in bed! You must seize this opportunity and try to get pregnant on the first try!"
When the news reached Weiyang Palace, the princess was eating freshly baked mung bean cakes. Stunned, she choked on the cakes for no apparent reason. After gulping down a glass of water, she coughed and kept urging Jiang Huan to seize this opportunity.
Mingzhu had been by the Empress Dowager's side for many years and had heard her say a lot from her.
In the imperial harem, it is extremely difficult for concubines to get things done without the emperor's favor.
As women get older, they rely on their children for status and wealth, so having a child is actually a way to save one's life!
Jiang Huan is currently favored by the emperor. If she can take this opportunity to give birth to a prince, she can still rely on the child to establish herself in the palace even if she is no longer favored by the emperor.
But Jiang Huan's thoughts were rather complicated.
She poured the princess a glass of her newly developed iced tea, her heart pounding like a pot of tripe.
She did want to go to the imperial palace, and also wanted to use it to gain power and keep those scheming villains in the harem from causing trouble.
but......
She just wanted to please Huo Lin, she didn't really intend to offer her body!
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